Stakeholders Back Ikorodu Governorship Agenda, Call for Unity and Strategy
Stakeholders in Ikorodu have expressed support for the agitation for the division to produce the next governor of Lagos State, while emphasising the need for unity and strategic political engagement to actualise the ambition.
The position was made known at the I-Heroes 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Public Discourse themed “Ikorodu’s Stake in Lagos Politics: Amplifying Our Strength and Capacity,” held at The Exclusives Club.
Delivering the keynote address, former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu Branch, Barr. Saheed Owolabi Kolawole Shillings, argued that Ikorodu has not benefited proportionately from its long-standing support for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He maintained that the division deserves to produce the next governor, citing what he described as under-representation in key political offices over the years.
“Ikorodu is a frontline community in Lagos State and deserves the position,” he said, while questioning the gains of continued loyalty to the ruling party.
Shillings also highlighted infrastructural challenges in the division, including poor road networks and inadequate healthcare facilities, stressing the need for a new political direction.
However, discussants at the event took a more strategic stance, advocating engagement within the APC to realise the governorship ambition.
Among them were Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, Executive Assistant to the Governor on Parking Management; Comrade Lekan Biliamin Oba, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Social Development; Hammed Aroyewun, Chairman of Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area; Hon. Ameen Apanisile, Chairman of Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area; and representatives of the Ijede Local Council Development Area.
Sanwoola, while acknowledging the concerns raised by the keynote speaker, attributed Ikorodu’s political challenges largely to internal factors.
“Our real enemies are from within. This isn’t about outsiders, but about our own people,” he said, stressing the need to address internal divisions and improve access to political power.
He also advocated inclusiveness, noting that non-indigenes who have lived in Ikorodu for a considerable period should not be excluded from political participation.
Similarly, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Gbolahan Mudashiru, assured that the division’s loyalty to the ruling party would yield results if sustained with unity and strategic planning.
He noted that Ikorodu has produced individuals who have served in key government positions, including commissioners and top cabinet members, while reaffirming that the division is well-positioned to produce the next governor.
Other speakers, including Comrade Oba and Aroyewun, emphasised the importance of youth involvement, grassroots mobilisation, and inclusive participation in achieving the political goal.
They warned against viewing the governorship ambition as an entitlement, urging stakeholders to engage in deliberate lobbying, negotiation, and coalition-building across the state.
Public analyst and former Ikorodu Constituency I candidate, Adekunle Rasaq Aderigbe, also stressed the need to prioritise competence and performance in presenting a credible candidate.
“If we show competence and capacity, they will have no choice but to support us,” he said.
Earlier, President of I-Heroes, Majolagbe Olansile, described the discourse as timely, noting that it provided a platform for stakeholders to collectively assess Ikorodu’s position in Lagos politics and chart a path forward.
The event attracted political leaders, community stakeholders, youth representatives, and public analysts, all of whom echoed the need for unity, strategic alignment, and sustained engagement to actualise the Ikorodu governorship agenda.
